And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground wh...ere only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

Today's pressures on middle-class children to grow up fast begin in early childhood. Chief among them is the pressure for early in...tellectual attainment, deriving from a changed perception of precocity. Several decades ago precocity was looked upon with great suspicion. The child prodigy, it was thought, turned out to be a neurotic adult; thus the phrase "early ripe, early rot!"LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

The average parent may, for example, plant an artist or fertilize a ballet dancer and end up with a certified public accountant. W...e cannot train children along chicken wire to make them grow in the right direction. Tying them to stakes is frowned upon, even in Massachusetts.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred b...y nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may, by mere labour, be obtained, is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert some judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of critic.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw u...pon themselves. It is a vain boasting of the greatness of our mind.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

Our roots are in the dark; the earth is our country. Why did we look up for blessing--instead of around, and down? What hope we ha...ve lies there. Not in the sky full of orbiting spy-eyes and weaponry, but in the earth we have looked down upon. Not from above, but from below. Not in the light that blinds, but in the dark that nourishes, where human beings grow human souls.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

If you wish to grow thinner, diminish your dinner,And take to light claret instead of pale ale;...Look down with an utter contempt upon butter,And never touch bread till it's toasted--or staleLESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »